Chicago Police Say Facebook Did Not Cooperate in Drug and Gun-running Probe

Chicago police complained Thursday that they received no cooperation from Facebook during a drug and gun-running investigation involving an invitation-only group on the social network that couldn't be found through the search function.

A department source said covert accounts set up by investigators were shut down once Facebook learned they involved law enforcement. About 50 people have been arrested so far and 18 guns have been seized, officials said at a news conference during which they repeatedly blasted Facebook.

"Facebook has a responsibility to the people that they serve to ensure that these types of things don't go on," police Superintendent Eddie Johnson said. "And quite frankly they haven't been very friendly to law enforcement to prevent these things."

There was no immediate comment from Facebook.

Police arranged the purchase of 18 firearms and about $46,000 worth of drugs, including from a teacher who was found with drug paraphernalia at Leland Elementary School.